12 injured on tough religious pilgrimage up Croagh Patrick

Of around 20,000 people taking part in the annual Reek Sunday Pilgrimage on Croagh Patrick in Co Mayo, 12 people have been injured, with two people sustaining serious injuries.

A spokesperson for Mayo Mountain rescue said that the "majority of the people hurt sustained lower leg injuries" reports TheJournal.ie.

One of the seriously injured pilgrims was a woman in her 50s who sustained lacerations to her head and was rescued from near the summit at 7:30 in the morning. The second person to sustain serious injury was a man, also in his 50s, is thought to have suffered a serious cardiac arrest. He was attended to by the Order of Malta at around 10:30 in the morning.

Both victims were airlifted via helicopter to Mayo General Hospital. Mayo Mountain rescue maintained a presence until around 8pm to anticipate and attend to any further casualties.

This year's pilgrimage was led by Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam. He was accompanied by Archbishop Charles J Brown, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland as wells as Bishop of Achonry Brendan Kelly. The climb began at 7 in the morning.